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The impact of foreign direct investment on productivity: New evidence for developing countries

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  • Li, Chengchun
  • Tanna, Sailesh

Abstract

We provide new empirical evidence on the relationship between inward foreign direct investment (FDI) and total factor productivity (TFP) growth using cross-country data for 51 developing countries over the period 1984–2010. Our results suggest a weak direct effect of FDI on TFP growth but, after accounting for the roles of human capital and institutions as contingencies in the FDI-TFP growth relationship, we find a robust FDI-induced productivity growth response dependent on these ‘absorptive capacities’. However, the relevance of the human capital contingency effect diminishes when the effect of institutions is also considered, which suggests that improving institutions is relatively more important than human capital development for developing countries to realise productivity gains from FDI.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Chengchun & Tanna, Sailesh, 2019. "The impact of foreign direct investment on productivity: New evidence for developing countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 453-466.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:80:y:2019:i:c:p:453-466
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2018.11.028
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    Keywords

    Foreign direct investment; Total factor productivity growth; Human capital; Institutions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity

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